Google has integrated AOL's AIM instant-messaging service into its Gmail Web-based e-mail client, the company announced on Tuesday. Gmail has had its own chat service since February 2006, but now Gmail users will be able to connect to AIM through a drop-down menu on the Gmail Web page, Google said. Gmail users can sign into AIM through the "set status here" menu. AIM contacts and Gmail chat will appear on the same menu. Initially only English version of the AIM service will be available, with more languages to join soon.

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people are still that scared of viruses? I've had IM since I was like 10 Well over 10 years at least. And nothing from that. Maybe Kazaa or Limewire. But never from an IM. If its people you know then you shouldn't have to worry much. Then again I've always made sure to buy a good anti virus since I hate installing windows

people are still that scared of viruses? I've had IM since I was like 10 Well over 10 years at least. And nothing from that. Maybe Kazaa or Limewire. But never from an IM. If its people you know then you shouldn't have to worry much. Then again I've always made sure to buy a good anti virus since I hate installing windows

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No, what I ment is that "AIM" is a virus, any applications that takes over your PC and sucks up processsing cycles like it does, is a virus in my book. AIM/AOL even takes up cycles when you don't use it.

its not so much as the AIM its more of the America Online internet service is whats a virus,tons of crap in there that you install without knowing it,AIM works fine for me never had a problem its just AOL(internet service) that gets me

people are still that scared of viruses? I've had IM since I was like 10 Well over 10 years at least. And nothing from that. Maybe Kazaa or Limewire. But never from an IM. If its people you know then you shouldn't have to worry much. Then again I've always made sure to buy a good anti virus since I hate installing windows

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Yes but AIM itself is an infection. AIM causes many games in Vista to randomly crash (I don't know why so don't ask just Google it). AIM also has viruses and spyware (embedded) that are wide spread. AIM is a huge bandwidth/memory hog. If you're going to use an instant messenger I recommend using iChat if you're a Mac user, or Pidgin if you're a Windows user.

AIM (the platform) itself isn't the issue, AOL's poorly programmed client is the problem. If you are having issues with AIM and Vista get Trillian or wait for google to integrate AIM support into Gtalk.

Google is not forcing you to use the AIM part of Gmail from now on either, you can choose whether to use it or not .

AIM (the platform) itself isn't the issue, AOL's poorly programmed client is the problem. If you are having issues with AIM and Vista get Trillian or wait for google to integrate AIM support into Gtalk.

Google is not forcing you to use the AIM part of Gmail from now on either, you can choose whether to use it or not .

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Not forcing us to use AIM, but it's "Integrated" meaning it's there anyways. By-By G-mail...lol.

Not forcing us to use AIM, but it's "Integrated" meaning it's there anyways. By-By G-mail...lol.

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...meaning what? The AIM portion of GTalk will somehow take over your computer and install AOL's client while you aren't looking? Google doesn't have a pair of Chimps for programmers like AOL obviously does, so if anything the AIM part of it will be very good compared to AOL's official client. AIM's official client ate around 50 megabytes at most of memory on my Vista x64 box and right now Google Talk is using around 13. Hell, Trillian, GTalk, Xfire and Steam combined are using less memory then AOL's official client XD.

...meaning what? The AIM portion of GTalk will somehow take over your computer and install AOL's client while you aren't looking? Google doesn't have a pair of Chimps for programmers like AOL obviously does, so if anything the AIM part of it will be very good compared to AOL's official client. AIM's official client ate around 50 megabytes at most of memory on my Vista x64 box and right now Google Talk is using around 13. Hell, Trillian, GTalk, Xfire and Steam combined are using less memory then AOL's official client XD.

Whatever, your loss .

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To consider not using AIM as a loss is absolutely ridiculous. AIM is literally the worst messenger out there. Trillian is good, but not as good as Pidgin. GTalk itself will just be another form of advertisement, which is all Google is.

...meaning what? The AIM portion of GTalk will somehow take over your computer and install AOL's client while you aren't looking? Google doesn't have a pair of Chimps for programmers like AOL obviously does, so if anything the AIM part of it will be very good compared to AOL's official client. AIM's official client ate around 50 megabytes at most of memory on my Vista x64 box and right now Google Talk is using around 13. Hell, Trillian, GTalk, Xfire and Steam combined are using less memory then AOL's official client XD.

Whatever, your loss .

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I agree that Google has the best of the best. AIM is AOL, BY definition AIM IS AOL Instant Mesanger.
Therefore; Aim is AOL and AOL is nothing but a problem. Losing G-mMail is a small price to pay for not having AOL's AIM infiltrate my PC's again.

But hey, this is just my oponion and personal expierence dealing with AOL and its programs/processes.

You sound like you have some kind of insider info about Google, Well you wouldn't be the only one...LOL

To consider not using AIM as a loss is absolutely ridiculous. AIM is literally the worst messenger out there. Trillian is good, but not as good as Pidgin. GTalk itself will just be another form of advertisement, which is all Google is.

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Well, I have to agree with you there, overall AIM is unreliable and can be frustratingly slow at times. I wouldn't say it is a total loss though, the client just needs to be reworked/recoded. Not that AOL really cares anyway, when people think of AIM they think of the standard client and not many people I know know that there are alternatives.

However, I have to disagree with you about GTalk. I have never had any issues with it myself and it's small footprint is nice. The UI is nice and simple and while yes, it doesn't have as many features or options I have never had it crash on me once since I started using it in 2006. That and it ran on my Nokia 770 without a hitch (well, before the wireless networking died anyway). [edit]The fact that they are adding on support for other clients as well shows that Google does care about the client/platform[/edit]

I agree that Google has the best of the best. AIM is AOL, BY definition AIM IS AOL Instant Mesanger.
Therefore; Aim is AOL and AOL is nothing but a problem. Losing G-mMail is a small price to pay for not having AOL's AIM infiltrate my PC again.

But hey, this is just my oponion and personal expierence dealing with AOL and its programs/processes.

You sound like you have some kind of insider info about Google, Well you wouldn't be the only one...LOL

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Heh, I don't have any kind of insider info. I just pay lots of attention .

about time someone said it, and your right nobody said anything about installing it on your computer. And aim being integrated into their web services is a pretty poor reason to quit gmail. First off, what are you doing browsing your email without an email client anyways. Second aim has been around a long time, and there is a plethora of third party software to utilize it's services. third if you think aim=aol your retarded, i use just regular old basic aim, i've never gotten a virus, the most i've ever had to do was to install the crack to removed the ads.
Forth, the client doesn't stop the virus(aol does not put viruses on your computer), virus scan and a secure computer stop viruses, the clients do the same thing the always have and they do it the same way but interfacing with the aim service just like aim.

So you see it's all really just speculation, aim is coded poorly yes, so use a different client or use something else altogether.
Gmail puts aim(which isn't even dled to the computer) in their webservices and everybody starts crying about gmail and how they're gonna leave gmail. I for one will be staying, yall are just complaining over nothing lol, use and email client no aim on the email client.

You guys might be on to something.... As soon as let Gmail chat logon to AIM for me... I got Symantec notification of virus "Bloodhound.unknown". Tried all sorts of ways to remove it, with no luck. Contacted Symantec and they said they have had many calls on this virus since yesterday afternoon (when the news of the integration hit the RSS feeds). Coincidence?

BTW, Bloodhound is not a confirmed virus. May just be a false positive in Symantec.